Following a month-long summer hiatus, the Austin ISD board of trustees returns Monday with a board work session at the district's downtown Austin headquarters. Here's a few more things to know this week:



  • The solar eclipse will occur Aug. 21.[/caption]

    Museum director offers eclipse-viewing tips


On Aug. 21, Central Texans will be able to see a partial eclipse, when the moon will cover the sun about 65-67 percent, according to Torvald Hessel, executive director of the Texas Museum of Science & Technology in Cedar Park. If area residents cannot take a trip to the eclipse’s path of totality, there are several locations hosting eclipse viewing parties in the Austin area.




  • Bronzed Bunny opens in Oak Hill


Oak Hill Plaza's newest tenant Southern California-based spa Bronzed Bunny offers organic airbrush tanning as well as sugaring hair removal. The spa opened its doors Aug. 5 on Hwy. 71.




  • Emergency short-term homeless shelters on the horizon in Austin


As part of the city's effort to solve homelessness, last week City Council directed the city manager to search for city properties that could be converted to emergency shelter.






  • Austin ISD board work session District trustees will hold a board work session on Monday.[/caption]

    Austin ISD board of trustees return from summer hiatus Monday


District trustees will return from summer break on Monday with a 6 p.m. board work session in the board auditorium of AISD's headquarters, 1111 6th St., Austin. Agenda items include a discussion about the student code of conduct and review of the roles and responsibilities of the Community Bond Oversight Committee.




  • City of Austin one step closer to tax swap with Austin ISD


The city of Austin will attempt to ease the financial burden of Austin ISD's recapture payments through a complex tax strategy that will fund district programs through an increase in city taxes and a later decrease in school taxes. Last Wednesday, the city initiated the process with a vote of 6-4.